‘Time and Talk’ exhibit on display at Loveland Museum

By Fran Swarbrick

Loveland Museum Curator

“Time and Talk” is the title of a new exhibit in a case at the entry of Loveland Museum, 513 W. Second St., Dixon. 

This case features a new exhibit every few weeks, telling a story of the past.

So, in this mid-January exhibit, we go back in time to the days when Father had to wind the big mantle clock every Saturday night. No electric clocks. 

The heavy clock would clang, chime and tell the hour, but only if it was wound once a week.

Beside it is a smaller, bedroom clock dated 1894, and that, too, had to be wound regularly.

At the other end of the case, in the “Talk” section, are telephones. The black one has a transmitter to speak into, a receiver to hold up to your ear and a dial. But remember the earlier ones with no dial? Those with memories of that will go back to the 1930s.

In those days if you wanted to make a call, the “line” might be busy. It was a two-party line, as were most in town. So you had to wait. Or you could listen to the other party and perhaps learn some secrets about the neighbors.

If you lived in the country, phoning was even more problematic. Five or six parties were on your line, and you had to take turns.

No dial? How could you dial your number? You didn’t. You told it to a live operator at the other end of the line. Then you waited to be connected to the number desired. The operator was always female in those days. Can you imagine a more boring job? We have come a long way.

If anyone has an old, black telephone with a straight stem and transmitter and receiver, but no dial, the museum would appreciate its donation for a permanent display.